Summary Of Hitler's Pope By John Cornwell

Hitler’s Pope was written in 1999 by John Cornwell and it examines the actions of Eugenio Pacelli. Eugenio Pacelli would later become Pope Pius XII of the Roman Catholic Church before, during and after the events of World War Two. Cornwell covers the life and the actions of Pacelli during the events of the war from his actions with Adolf Hitler as well as the relation/ internal workings of the Roman Catholic Church and its dealings during the war. The book begins talking about the Pacellis Family. The Pacellis were a Black Noble family who were members of the Roman Catholic Church. They weren’t like conventional nobles but Black Nobles were a small group who stood by the popes following the seizure of the Papal States from the Kingdom of Italy. …show more content…
He also liked the reforms in the church that he himself had a hand in that would give the Pope more control over the church similar to what it is today. Pacelli was ordained a priest of the Catholic Church on Easter Sunday, 2 April 1899. His priestly duties were most secretary roles for superiors with in the church. As years passed, he would later become a Cardinal-Priest on 16 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI. Shortly after he obtain a promotion, he would be promoted again as the Cardinal Secretary of State. He acquired this new title on 7 February 1930 by Pius XI. Cardinal Secretary of State over saw the relations of the Catholic Church with other nations, a role of a diplomat for the church. This diplomat role was called a papal …show more content…
Since Eugenio was a Cardinal, he was able to be part of the conclave and be a potential new leader of the church. Eugenio won the majority and became the pope of the church taking the name Pius XII. Trained as a diplomat, Pius XII remained neutral like Pope Leo XIII and Benedict XV instead of the confrontational one taken by Pope Pius IX, Pius X, and Pius XI. Hoping to serve as a peace maker between the nations, Pius XII tried to prevent another European war but failed. Pius XII did not want another horrifying war to consume. Under his orders, the Catholic Church tried to stay neutral and did not try take sides and he did not want to antagonize fascist Italy and Nazi Germany in fear that they would do something about him just like all the other rivals of the two nations’ leaders. He tried to maintain neutrality even when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Pius did not even condemn the aggression acted out by the Germans against the Catholic